Page 120 of Rumor Has It

I plaster on a pleasant smile. “As long as you can pretend to be interested in Rumor and not my ass.”

“It’s a fine ass.” He smirks.

I tilt my head, wrinkling my nose. “I’m sure Boone would agree, but not with you saying so.”

“Well, good thing he isn’t here.” He fumbles with his keys, finally swinging the entrance wide. “Again, welcome home.”

“Or at least, to your home.” I take Rumor’s hand, leading her through to the living area. Wall to wall windows open to the ocean, and while it’s beautiful, still—there’s something missing.

Reed joins us, beaming with pride. “One day soon, I’ll own this.”

“You don’t now?” My brow furrows.

He fidgets, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I’m still climbing the ladder. Like I said, Daddy didn’t give me my business.”

“Maybe, you should’ve started your own and not followed Boone’s.” This time, I get to smirk.

“Rooms are upstairs. You both can take the second one on the left.” His face is red, and he doesn’t meet my eyes to speak to me.

I hold Rumor’s hand up, releasing it with a giggle. “Off we go!”

Rumor and I find our room, settling in nicely. It’s sparse, but comfortable. Rumor lays back with her iPad mini, and I go in search of food. I roam the house until I find the kitchen and an empty refrigerator.

“Ughh.” I pull my phone out, exploring my options for groceries and fast food.

The hair on my neck raises, alerting me to his presence. I cut my eyes to all available doorways and don’t see him, but he’s watching me. I can feel it. My eyes dart to the ceiling corners, where I find cameras.

I wave with a smile that turns into a sneer as I flip him off. I turn my attention back to making a supply list and finding a way to get it here. There’s nothing here, so it doesn’t take long.

I turn the corner from the kitchen to amble back up to Rumor so we can discuss dinner, when I come face to face with Reed.

“Where ya going?” He crowds me against the wall.

I duck and dodge his lips. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to feed Rumor.”

“Is this what it’s going to be like? Everything about her?” he growls in my ear.

I slant my head away from him. “No, it’s not because if you don’t get off me, you’re going to be in the hospital.”

“Momma?” Rumor murmurs from behind him, giving me a chance to make my escape.

***

Reed is all hands and no interest in getting to know Rumor at all. Exactly as Boone warned me. Reed comes and goes all week, coming home so late, he can’t spend any time with Rumor.

If I stay up to talk to him about it, he simply blows me off and proceeds to try to get my clothes in a pile on the floor. “Was he this creepy and gross in high school? I was in serious need of help, if so.”

Finally tired of waiting for Reed to ‘show up’, I decide to take Rumor out to the beach. We need a day to unwind and allow me to think clearly. “I’m not sure we should stay for the rest of the trip, if he’s never here.”

I hold my hand over my eyes shielding them from the sun as I watch Rumor play by the water. The waves are getting bigger, much like the emotions I get missing Boone.

“I wonder if there’s an award or something for most mistakes made in one lifetime?” I keep a straight face while Maisyn is cackling in my ear through the reciever.

“Is it wrong of me to say I told you so?”

“No, tell her,” Ridge grunts. I decided to call my best friends while Rumor gets some beach time. It’s as if I needed some friend time.

I purse my lips. “This is the last time I do a three-way with you two.”